altitude

The height of a place or object above the level of the sea.

• The plane gained altitude quickly.
• Less oxygen is available at high altitude.
• What is the altitude of this mountain village?

How to use it: at an altitude of something (The village stands at an altitude of two thousand metres.)

Similar words: elevation

Common phrases: high altitude, at altitude, gain altitude

The distance of something above the ground or another chosen level.

• The balloon’s altitude above the ground increased slowly.
• Keep the drone at a low altitude.
• We measured the kite’s altitude above the field.

How to use it: altitude above something (The drone maintained an altitude of ten metres above the ground.)

Similar words: height

Common phrases: low altitude, change altitude, altitude above ground

The shortest distance from a corner of a shape to the opposite side or surface.

• The triangle’s altitude is four centimetres.
• Multiply the base by the altitude, then divide by two.
• We calculated the altitudes of three different pyramids.

How to use it: the altitude of something (The altitude of the triangle is six centimetres.)

Similar words: height

Common phrases: triangle altitude, calculate the altitude, altitude of something